Duke Divinity School Professor to Lecture on Religion, Post-Racial Condition

East Carolina University soon will welcome Dr. J. Kameron Carter, associate professor of theology and black church studies at Duke University, for the final presentation in the 2011-12 Voyages of Discovery Lecture Series sponsored by the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences. Carter will discuss “Religion and the Post-Racial Condition,” at 7 p.m. March 13, in ECU’s Wright Auditorium.

As a theologian, Carter’s research addresses basic areas of Christian thought, especially Christology – the person and work of Jesus Christ, and theological anthropology – the human being in Christian perspective. He engages these areas not only through the Christian perspective, but also through the humanities, including cultural studies, gender studies, philosophy and literature.

Carter is working on a book addressing ideological uses of Jesus in the modern invention of the human. Examining the subject in religious, secular and post-secular forms, Carter refers to his study as an exploration of “the cultural Jesus.” Carter uncovers layers of meaning in contemporary culture that have both shaped and been shaped by this pivotal religious figure. He re-imagines the identity of Jesus and the politics of Jesus’ identity in light of shifting global realities of the 21st century.

The Jarvis Lecture is co-sponsored by the ECU Religious Studies Program and Jarvis Memorial United Methodist Church, which provides generous financial support for this event. The ECU Religious Studies Program selects the lecturers, whose views do not necessarily reflect current United Methodist theology or the beliefs of Jarvis Memorial United Methodist Church members.

Complimentary tickets for this lecture are available by calling the ECU Central Ticket Office at 252-328-4788 or 1-800-ECU-ARTS. Tickets also will be available at the door on the evening of the event. Individuals requesting accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should call 252-737-1016 (voice/TTY) at least 48 hours prior to the event.

The Voyages of Discovery Lecture series is made possible through contributions from Harriot College’s Dean’s Advancement Council, various university organizations, and many friends and supporters. To make a contribution, or for additional information, contact the director of the series Dr. John A. Tucker at 252-328-1028 or tuckerjo@ecu.edu, or visit the series’ Web site at www.ecu.edu/voyages.

East Carolina University | Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences